The Dutchman was named as Mauricio Pochettino's successor at the south-coast club on Monday, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal after leaving Feyenoord at the end of the 2013-14 season.

And the former Netherlands international believes that Southampton's philosophy of promoting players from their youth system - which has produced the likes of Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Luke Shaw - is reminiscent of the model employed in his homeland.

"The first meeting [with Southampton's head of football development, Les Reed] was talking about football and what was most important was the philosophy of the club," Koeman told the Saints' official website.

"I knew a lot about Southampton because over in Holland we know that the youth academy is very famous. It's a little bit like Holland - they give opportunities to young players and that's important for Southampton, to give young players a chance in the first team."

Koeman is the only man to have both played for and coached the three traditional powerhouses in Dutch football - Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord - and has also enjoyed stints in charge of Benfica and Valencia.

The 51-year-old has never previously worked in England but is relishing the opportunity to test himself in the Premier League.

"It's always been a great ambition because we always see a lot of games in the Premier League in Holland and it's maybe the strongest competition in Europe with great players and great managers," Koeman enthused.

"We admire the Premier League. I said one day to myself that, if I do get the opportunity to manage in England, then I would like to do that.

"This possibility to become the new manager of Southampton was an important step forward for me as a coach and I like it very much."